topic Re: Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro

SUSANMYERS — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 18:11:12 GMT

Copy and paste using the clipboard—ArcGIS Pro | ArcGIS Desktop

Seems pretty straightforward....but not?

Two feature polygon layers, which have templates that display in the manage templates dialog box, and which have identical attribute table structures except for one field. Copy the features from one layer and paste them into the other feature layer using ArcGIS Pro....

Zoom to the features to be copied and select them. They are the only selection in the map.
On the Edit tab, choose Copy

result: "Copying selected features" box shows the copying is executed.

Paste Special from the Paste drop down or using CTRL-ALT-V

either way, same result: "Paste Special Features" box appears and says ?There are no appropriate templates.

This is so basic, it has to be user error, what am I missing?

Re: Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro

DanPatterson_Retired — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 18:49:15 GMT

It is that reference to '... which have identical attribute table structures except for one field ...

that bothers me. Can you 'fix' that situation to see if makes the difference in the available templates

Re: Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro

SUSANMYERS — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 19:11:07 GMT

Hi Dan, thank you for the reply.

I hear you, that is why I included that. But please tell me Pro will allow copying say, a parcel shape to a zoning layer, which would have two different attribute tables that may or may not have a few fields in common. Although this is not the case with my current layers, is that not a basic need—to be able to copy the geometry and paste it to a different layer, and whatever attributes come along for the ride depends on the attributes? I will do the 'fix' and get back shortly.

Re: Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro

DanPatterson_Retired — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 19:24:23 GMT

Susan, if the process works in ArcMap with the same files and doesn't work in Pro, then this would be an issue for sure. I have only copied geometry and not attributes, so perhaps that is where the phrase caught my eye.

Re: Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro

MervynLotter — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 19:51:55 GMT

Hi Susan

You can quite easily copy across features and attributes from one file to the other. Just ensure that both features are editing enabled (under the TOC). Select feature, then right-click on feature and select copy.

Then go to Paste, Paste Special, then select the appropriate receiving template or layer to paste feature into. There is a even a tick-box to "Keep source attribute values".

I was able to copy across the attributes into the same fields of the receiving template attribute table. The fields were perfectly matched and in the same geodatabase.

Re: Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro

DanPatterson_Retired — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 19:54:24 GMT

Mervyn, that is what we were wondering... the field matching/difference being the issue. In your case all fields were the same? or were there any in one that weren't in the other?

Re: Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro

MervynLotter — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:06:24 GMT

Hi Dan

They were the same but I have just added an additional field and copied that across and it copied across all the matching attribute data but not my new column.

Re: Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro

MervynLotter — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:07:46 GMT

But if you dont tick the box for "Keep source attribute values" then none of the attributes are copied across.

Re: Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro

MervynLotter — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:11:39 GMT

Last comment, if the TOC is active and you try and copy and paste, then it will just add a duplicate of the layer under the TOC. The map view must be active for it to paste features across different layers.

Re: Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro

SUSANMYERS — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:16:57 GMT

ArcMap flies through this. So, I am starting to think the coordinate system is the touchy culprit.

Touchy because the only way I am getting copy and paste to work is by starting a new instance of Pro, new project, new map and allowing Pro to set the coordinate system based on the added data, and both are in the same coordinate system, thankfully. I try adding a new map to the other project, adding data and it will work, but I cannot copy and paste the layers from one map to a new empty map in the same project and get the copy/paste to work on features. Only way Pro has cooperated so far for me is to Add Data to a new map with no predetermined coordinate system. Does that make sense?

Re: Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro

DanPatterson_Retired — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:28:13 GMT

To me it does. Geometries have to be known and matched.

Re: Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro

SUSANMYERS — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:29:01 GMT

Hi Mervyn, Both layers are editing enabled in the TOC.

I am starting to think this is a spatial reference thing. The two layers I am working with happen to have the same spatial reference, but there are a variety of coordinate systems represented by all the layers in the map. The map itself is set to use that of the two layers being edited. ArcMap doesn't mind, it might warn me, but it doesn't prevent me from editing.

Re: Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro

MervynLotter — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:30:07 GMT

Susan, that sounds very unusual. I have just created a new map, changed the projection to something different than that of my feature classes, then added my feature classes and I could copy across geometry and attributes.

Perhaps start up a new project and try adding the same layers to copy across features.

Re: Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro

SUSANMYERS — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:54:23 GMT

I agree with you Mervyn, and after additional testing, I have come to the conclusion I may not figure out how to salvage that project. I am glad to discover that Pro does work the way I had hoped it would, (until it doesn't, haha!). Thank you very much for your time.

Re: Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro

SUSANMYERS — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 20:55:04 GMT

By the way, it was an imported ArcMap file...

Re: Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro

ThomasColson — Mon, 07 May 2018 20:26:41 GMT

So I was pulling my hair out on the whole copy from one layer paste to another thing 'till I stumbled upon this thread. Win! But I have to ask, what was wrong with the way it works in Arc?

Select the geometry from Layer 1;
Ctl-V
Pick a template from the Dialogue that pops up

How does having to contort your fingers into CTL-ALT-V make bulk editing more efficient? Having to move the mouse up to "Paste Special" definitely isn't a time improvement over Arc Map.

Thanks for starting this thread, would have taken me hours to figure this out.

Re: Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro

MicheleH1_DNReply — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 08:28:42 GMT

Exactly - why Paste Special? Isn't it more common to copy and paste across feature classes than within the same feature class? Doesn't seem so special to me. Why does this require so many more mouse clicks or a different keyboard short cut than is used in every other programme out there - including ArcMap? Seems like changing things for the sake of changing things rather than keeping stuff that works perfectly well - and intuitively. I remember figuring this out before but not until after I had spent another 10 frustrating minutes figuring it out again. Copy and paste - such a basic thing to be so weirdly handled.

Re: Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro

AdrianWelsh — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 15:37:05 GMT

So, is this still behaving the same as it did a year and a half ago? I would figure that Thomas Colson‌ would have made an ArcGIS Ideas‌ for this by now!

Re: Copy and Paste features between feature layers in ArcGIS Pro

KarenFolger — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 16:28:26 GMT

Pain in the ...! I was going control V? Oh, Alt-V. Seriously?